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Who Recycles?
It all started a few years ago while having a family party at our house.
It didn't take long for me to realize that my brother and sister in law had brought their own large garbage bag to collect all the recyclable items thrown frivolously into the the trash can. They had tried to shame us into recycling a few visits before. These are the people who clip coupons, throw $200.00 worth of groceries in their cart and end up paying $5 .00for all of it! They scrimp and they save, and they do very well. After some thought, I decided it was time to start recycling our plastic and aluminum cans. Well, my 9 year old daughter realized that every couple of weeks we would $cash in at the recycling center. She decided she wanted to buy a hamster. She worked for the neighbors, cleaned the house, and recycled her own cans to earn enough to buy a cage, food and of course $8.00 for the little critter. While at the recycling center, I asked the "recycling guy" how the whole process works. He collects about a ton of recyclables and compacts them into giant cubes. When he accumulates several tons, someone comes to pick up the cubes.(I assume this is when he gets paid) Anyway, I asked the recycle man, "where do the materials go, and how does the U.S. reuse them?" He promptly told me that 90% of these materials go to China! HUH? India takes about 5%, and we get ? Let me get this straight. We send virtually all of our recycled materials to China and other foreign countries so they can use it to make things(like toys) to sell back to us? Yes, this subject is a whole new Blog. What do you think? 10 comments from 5 users
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posted by
Joty
on Nov 4, 2007 at 12:53 PM
I recycle everything even though I only I get $ for aluminum cans, water bottles and junk plastics. As far as it going to China, so what? It's the American companies who've outsourced. If they had their factories here in the states I'm sure the material would be staying too. Besides, I'm glad the stuff doesn't stay here filling up our landfills and dumps. I wish everyone would recycle. posted by
madkow2747
on Nov 4, 2007 at 01:52 PM
I try to reuse a lot of things, like glass bottles and any containers. And I give large boxes to my son to play in :) I don't have any aluminum cans to recycle. I can't stand clipping coupons though! They never seem to have coupons for anything I eat. At least our tires make new roads, even if our plastics and aluminum go to China. I agree with Joty- it's the American companies sending factories abroad. But, on the somewhat-positive side, that makes things cheaper for us...That's really neat that you had your daughter work to buy her pet! Sounds like you really taught her the value of her animal, so she'll take good care of it. posted by
bunee
on Nov 4, 2007 at 03:27 PM
I guess it really doesn't matter where the recyclables go...but this whole thing about the children's toys being recalled...Do you think that China uses recycled materials from the U.S. to make them? If so, the U.S. is also responsible for toxic materials in our country. posted by
madkow2747
on Nov 4, 2007 at 03:42 PM
I don't know... that's an interesting question. I think the recalls on kids toys are more often due to lead in paint, aren't they? I don't really pay much attention to them, since my son mostly just plays with stuff around the house. I did look for a cute plate for him today though and I didn't get one because they were all made in China.
posted by
Joty
on Nov 4, 2007 at 04:38 PM
lol...when I was a kid everything was 'made in Japan'. To an extent the US company owners should be responsible I think. If it's their products, you'd think they'd want to have better quality control in place. The first huge recall of Mattel, one of the higher ups killed himself. Did he know there was lead in the paint they were using? I was hoping that the brouhaha would make the outsourcing a possible thing of the past... Madkow, if you are looking for a meal plate, go to the Mud Hut and paint one for him yourself. It'd be one of a kind, and the paint is definately not toxic...and it's fun. posted by
bunee
on Nov 4, 2007 at 04:45 PM
Great idea Joty! That would be really fun to go into the mud hut and have some fun with the kids! Is it located over by McDonalds?I can't remember where I saw the sign... how pathetic, I can't remember anything now days.... posted by
madkow2747
on Nov 4, 2007 at 05:42 PM
Is Mud Hut just for painting ceramics? Or can you paint plastic plates? I wouldn't dare give him anything but plastic :)
posted by
olivia
on Nov 5, 2007 at 04:30 AM
We have a big trash can in our garage where we throw our plastic bottles and aluminum cans. When it starts over flowing, my 13 year old son has the chore of bagging it up. It's his choice how many bags he gets. He can either go cash them in immediately or he can save his bags and cash them in when he has a few. That's his payment for keeping it cleaned up for us.
posted by
bigdog
on Nov 5, 2007 at 07:04 AM
Poor kid, He used to make bank when i was a beer drinker. Now that i don't drink any more he don't make squat. posted by
Joty
on Nov 5, 2007 at 08:09 AM
The Mud Hut is over by McDonalds Bunee...see? you remembered! It is for painting bisque. I have been there many times, it's fun and relaxing, I've taken the grandkids, and some adult friends. I have some very unique items now, all painted by moi. No Madkow, it's all bisque, no plastics. Good luck on finding anything not made in China, lol!
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